Motion-activated prevention of clogging and maintenance of patency of indwelling chest tubes.

OBJECTIVES

We designed a device that applies motion-activated energy (vibration) to prevent chest-tube clogging and maintain tube patency. We evaluated the efficacy of this device in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS

The motion-activated system (MAS) device assembly comprises a direct current motor with an eccentric mass (3.2 g, centroid radius of 4.53 mm) affixed to its motor shaft. The device was tested in vitro using a model of an obstructed chest tube, with clots of bovine blood and human thrombin. The in vivo study (in nine healthy pigs, 46.0 ± 3.3 kg) involved a bilateral minithoracotomy and placement of 32-Fr chest tubes (with and without the device). Whole autologous blood (120 ml) was injected every 15 min into the right and left chest each over 120 min total.

RESULTS

Chest-tube drainage over these 2 h using the MAS was significantly higher than that without the device (369 ± 113 ml vs 209 ± 115 ml; P = 0.027).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that the motion-activation of the chest tubes may be an effective tool to maintain chest tubes patent. Further optimization of this technology is required to obtain more consistent prevention of clot deposition within or outside the chest tubes.